Basket-ball goal



June 30, 925- A K H. CCCCCCCC ON Patented June 30, 1925.

HOWARD c. HARBISOIN, or WAYNE, ,PENNSYLVANIA BASKET-BALI. GOAL.

Application led March 19, 1925i Serial No. 16,699.

To all whom lf may .concern Be it known that I, HOWARDGKHARBI- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing in l/Vayne, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, have invented a Basket-Ball Goal, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the baskets constituting the goals for basket ball, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a novel formvofbasket that will be more durablethan those of the type now generally employed. f A more specific object of the invention is to provide means adapted for use with the present standard basket for protecting the cords by means of which the tubular nets are ordinarily attached to the supporting annular frame, thereby preventing the ball from coming in contact and eventually cutting said cords.

A further object of the invention is to provide the tubular netting forming a part of the basket with a resilient mounting whereby it may better withstand the shocks and strains placed upon it by the ball. i

In the attached drawings:

Figure l is a detached perspective view of the annular frame of a standard basket, the tubular netting forming a part of the goal, and an intermediate ring constituting the principal element of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the assembled basket;

Fig. 3 vis a view in perspective of a standard frame provided with the annular guard element constituting another embodiment of my invention, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the guard on the assembled basket.

With reference to the drawings, the standard basket consists of an annular frame 1, usually of metal, having at one side an arm 2 by means of which, as shown in Fig. l, the frame may be secured to stop 3. The basket further comprises a tubular netting 4, as shown in said figure, which ordinarily is secured to the frame l by means of cords passed through one end of the netting and around the frame l. In this form of basket considerable inconvenience is caused by the rupture of the cords that secure the netting 4 due to the action of the ball striking the frame at the points where the said cords pass around the latter. The use of wire or other heavy material for the vertical back- Y securing the net in place is prohibited by the damaging effect upon they strands of the netting. I have discovered means wherebyA this material structural defect may be remedied without materiallyvdeparting froml the accepted standards of goalpcon-k struction. A

.In one form of my invention I provide, as shown in Fig. Vl, a ring 5 of the samediameter as the frame l and preferably ot heavy wire ornm'etal. This frame 5 is provided at predetermined spaced intervals with apertures 6 through which are passed the lower ends of small springs 7, the upper ends of the springs being made preferably in the form of a hook or loop which may be passed around the frame l and secured as shown in Fig. 5. A tubular netting of standard form is employed which, instead of being secured to the frame l as previously described, is secured by means of the usual cords 8, see Fig. 2, tothev ring 5, this ring then being secured in place under the frame l by passing the loops of the spring around the latter. With this construction,

as shown in Fig. 2, the cords 8 which secure the netting 4 to thering 5 occupy a position underneath the frame l and are thereby protected from the ball. The springs 7 also act to relieve the shock of the ball in the net.

I have found that a basket constructed as described has a much longer life and period of usefulness without requiring attention of any sort than the standard basket.

Undersome circumstances, it may be deemed advisable to provide additional protective means in the form of an annularl split ring, such as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and therein designated by the reference numeral 10, this member being adapted as shown to tit down closely over the framel, thereby providing a protective cover overlying the elements 7 where they pass around the frame l. This not only protects the springs from the action of the ball, but also provides a smooth upper surface for the frame l, which may be considered advisable. The member l0 may be made of thin spring metal so as to tit more or less snugly around the frame l, and openings yll should be provided to accommodate the arm 2 and struts l2 where they join the frame. Obviously the member 10 may be in sectional form and applied so that the junctures of the frame and the arm 2-and struts 12 lie between the ends of the sections.

gli A 1,544,453

Obviously tlie invention in its broaderffa'spects is capable of a Wide varietyof embodi-ments. vbe ldesirable under some4r eliminate the intermediate ring ly employ the member guards which secure tbe netting to the circumstances to 5 and mere- Jframe l in the usual manner.

l the ringf Y diameter as It will be noted that in each instance my device is applicable tol the standard goal, and may be put into use Without modification of the latter'.

l. A Vbasket ball goalV 'comprising -an annular frame,- a ring of substantially the same diameter resiliently"suspended from `theV frame, and a tubular netting suspended from 2. A basketball goal comprising `an Vannularframe, a ring of substantially 'the same said frame, springs constituting llneans for suspending the ringjfrom theannular frame7 andY a tubular Y netting susl A pended romthe ring.

Thus as shown in Fig. 4, it may y 10 t0 Pretec@ `the vthe latter, and a detachable member `n'ular frame7 Ymeans for suspendingthe lnet from the a ring of substantially the same 'of said frame.

Vto be detachablyy secured -onrthe under side 5. A basket ball goal lcomprising an anf nular member and a tubular net adapted to be SBOHG. tesa-id member, and means includingan element adapted for detachable connection With said member for providing a protective surface overlying said member. i 6. A basket ball goal comprising an annular frame, a tubular net, means for suspending the net from thel annular member including elements .passing over; the top of to overlieand protect said elements 7. A basketl ball goal comprising'an ana tubular znet, and resilient frame. j

suspending the netlfrom theframe;

9.- A basket ball ,1 nular frame, a tubu ar net suspended from the frame.V i t Y 10. As anew ,article ofy manufacture,v a ring-shaped member 'of substantially the same diameter asthat of 1the annular trame of a standard basket ball goall and adapted l tobe securedbeneath the supportatubularnetting, said ring when secured to the frameformingwitli the lat- Vtera basket ball goal substantially the same y in 'form las the said standard goal.v 3

HoWARn c. HARRISON.

adapted basketball goal an anli ynular frame, a tubular net, and springs for oal comprising yan an'-V said frame, and to the frame', anda lcover element overlying 

